I have been using external (mast mounted) preamps for 2m and 70cm from ARR with my TS-2000 for 2 years and quite happy with their performance. These RF-switched preamps just work always and they're weather proof so virtually no maintenance is needed. Note that they can only handle maximum 160W RF, which is good enough for me. http://www.advancedreceiver.com/page10.html
Thu XV9AA
-----Original Message----- From: Bob DeVarney W1ICW [mailto:we1u@myfairpoint.net] Sent: Saturday, August 25, 2012 1:06 AM To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Ts2000 with external preamps
I've had phenomenal success with the SSB preamps over the last 25 years. I have one for both 2 meters and 70 cm and if I had anything worth mentioning on 6 meters for an antenna I would have one there as well. Prior to that I used Landwehr.
For my EME station I am using a DB6NT receive-only, only because at the time the Deutschemark ( or Euro ) was cheap and I could get the DB6NT cheaper shipped from Germany than I could get an equivalent SSB receive only here. I have no regrets, the DB6NT is a thing of beauty as only German workmanship can make.
I see that ARR is now making an rf-switched preamp that handles some power now too, but I'd stick with the SSB if I were you, only because they will handle up to 700 watts if you sequence them; 200 RF-sensed.
On 8/24/2012 1:28 PM, Lawn, Richard wrote:
This link is very useful and one I didn't find when I searched. It seems
that with the particular preamp and xcvr I have a sequencer is needed to ensure dx is removed from the coax before rf is introduced. I think the easiest solution is to get a different preamp once I get my icom repaired. I could also swap it with the mirage I'm using at home with the 847 which I think is immune to rf or is switched. Unless you have an icom xcvr their preamps are a bad purchase.
Thanks everyone. Rick W2jaz